Bow-Wow and Worship Toy Yorkshire Terriers, by Susan Bailey

It is very difficult for the Yorkie novice to discover that there are no different Yorkshire Terrier types. A Yorkie is a Yorkie is a Yorkie. This is according to the breed societies and national showing bodies like the American Kennel Club (AKC) or United Kennel Club (UKC). However, if you look into any advertising for Yorkshire Terrier puppies, you will find lots of breeders insisting that there are such things as Teacup Yorkies, Standard Yorkies and Toy Yorkshire Terriers.

If you are looking for a Yorkshire Terrier, be very clear what the individual breeder considers a Toy Yorkshire Terrier. Most will call any Yorkshire Terrier a Toy Yorkshire Terrier. The Yorkshire Terrier is in the Toy group of dogs for showing purposes after all. But there are some breeders who will insist that Toy Yorkshire Terriers are of a certain weight - four to six pounds. The average weight for a show quality Yorkshire Terrier is seven pounds.

The term "Toy Yorkshire Terrier" has come up as a marketing gimmick, and not much else. This term implies that their Yorkies are smaller than the average. Consider that Yorkshire Terriers are small dogs to begin with - but apparently, that's not small enough for some people. They will try to breed incredibly tiny dogs for the "cute" factor. Logic goes right out of the window whenever money is involved. Any Yorkshire Terrier under five pounds in adult weight will be sickly, have an incredibly fragile skeleton and will have to go to the vet a lot.

However, even puppies advertised as Toy Yorkshire Terriers or even Teacup Yorkshire Terriers (which come to an adult weight of two to four pounds) can suddenly grow up into hefty ten pounders. They are still purebred Yorkshire Terriers, but they just grown up bigger than expected. This happens in any breed of dog - and even in people, too.

There really aren't any laws tough enough to stop breeding incredibly tiny, sickly Toy Yorkshire Terriers. Since there is a demand, there logically must be a supply. The best way you can help the dogs is not to buy such a puppy and discourage these irresponsible breeding practices. The best place you can go for a Yorkie and for accurate Yorkshire Terrier information is from a Yorkshire Terrier rescue.

Because there are no requirements for buying a dog, many people buy a dog that he shouldn't. Then, those dogs wind up in shelters. Because of the particular needs of Yorkies, many Yorkshire Terrier rescues have sprouted up all over the country. They know how domineering, needy and yet how loyal these dogs are. They take the time to get to know each dog and help match one to your personality. Never buy a Toy Yorkshire Terrier puppy - adopt from an animal rescue, instead.

Susan Bailey loves everything having to do with dogs, including Yorkshire Terrier history. The Yorkshire Terrier was a much larger breed in the beginning. This author is currently writing a series of articles containing Yorkshire Terrier information for interested readers.